Apparatus for automatically bending metallic tubes

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for automatically bending tubular materials. The apparatus comprises a bending direction setter which is operative to securely grip a length of tubular material approximately centrally along the length of material. The bending direction setter is operative to rotate the tubular material about its original axis a preselected and carefully controlled amount. The bending apparatus further comprises a pair of automatic benders which are operative to engage the tubing at selected locations on opposed sides of the bending direction setter. The benders are operative to selectively engage the tubing material at a predetermined location therealong and to effect a controlled bend therein. The bending direction setter may rotate the tubular material about its original axis between successive bends carried out by the benders, thereby enabling the tubular material to be bent through three dimensions. The apparatus further comprises a takeout unit for removing the bent tubular product from the bend direction setter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for automatically bending a metallic tube, comprising: feed means for sequentially feeding elongated tubes;   bending-direction setting means for clamping a tube fed from said feed means substantially centrally along the length of said tube, and for rotating the tube around the longitudinal axis of the gripped portion thereof, said bending direction setting means including a link assembly having a plurality of support members, a pair of parallel beams hinged loosely to each of said support members and a clamp pivotably connected to said support members for gripping the tube, said link assembly defining a plane disposed substantially at a right angle to the portion of the tube clamped by said bending direction setting means, said parallel beams each being pivotably mounted about hinge points disposed at respective locations thereon spaced from said support members for rotation within the plane of said link assembly;   means connected to at least one hinge point for rotating one of said parallel beams;   a pair of automatic bending means for bending the tube preselected amounts, said bending means being disposed on opposite sides of said bending direction setting means and being movable relative thereto; and   removal means for removing a bent tube from said bending direction setting means, said removal means being selectively movable with respect to said bending direction setting means.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the clamp is mounted to a guide disposed parallel to and intermediate said beams, said guide being hinged to said support members of said link assembly. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising an external actuator, said external actuator being in communication with said guide of said bending direction setting means for moving said bending direction setting means generally parallel to the beams thereof and for moving the removal means into position to receive a bent tube from said clamp. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the external actuator comprises at least one servo-motor. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the feed means, the means for rotating the beam of said bending direction setting means, the benders and the removal means each comprise at least one hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for selectively setting the bending direction of a metallic tube bending apparatus comprising: a support frame having a pair of spaced apart hinge pins;   a pair of elongated beams, each said beam having opposed first and second ends, the first ends of said beam being hinged respectively to the hinge pins of said frame;   a first support member hingedly connected to the respective second ends of said beams at spaced apart locations thereon such that said beams are substantially parallel to one another;   a second support member hingedly connected to said beams at locations on said beams intermediate the first and second ends thereof;   a guide hingedly connected to each of said first and second support members, said guide being disposed generally parallel to and intermediate said beams;   a clamp mounted to said guide, said clamp including a clamping portion for securely clamping a tube, said clamping portion being disposed between and substantially on a line joining the hinge pins of said frame;   means coupled to said clamp for selectively actuating said clamp; and   means connected to one of sid beams for selectively rotating one of said beams about the respective hinge pin of the frame.